V4 Design: dbdInterfaces

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EPICS: dbdInterfaces - IOC Database Description

August 11 2005

Overview

This document describes definitions for code that accessses IOC records, i.e. the records created from Database Definitions. The definitions are intended for code that:

  • includes header files generated from dbd definitions. Header files are generated from the following dbd definitions:
    • record - Should only be included by record support.
    • struct - Included by code that understands the struct.
    • menu - Included by code that understands the menu.
  • does not include the header files.

Syntax

The syntax is defined so that it is easy to provide C++ and Java definitions

Primitive Types

  • bool - a value that takes the values true or false
  • octet - an 8 bit byte
  • int16 - a 16 bits signed integer
  • int32 - a 32 bit signed integer
  • int64 - a 64 bit signed integer
  • float32 - a 32 bit IEEE float
  • float64 - a 64 bit IEEE float

In Java these types become:

  • bool => bool
  • octet => byte BUT no arithmetic is implied
  • int16 => short
  • int32 => int
  • int64 => long
  • float32 => float
  • float64 => double

In C++ these types become:

  • bool => bool
  • octet => char BUT no arithmetic is implied
  • int16 => short
  • int32 => int
  • int64 => long long
  • float32 => float
  • float64 => double

NOTES:

  • C++ may require something else to handle the integer types
  • Exceptions must be defined. TBD

enum, interface, struct, array

The syntax uses the terms enum, interface, and struct.

An example of a enum is: 

    enum LinkDir {
        LinkDirNone,
        LinkDirForward,
        LinkDirIn,
        LinkDirOut,
        LinkDirInOut
    };

The C++ definition is identical. In Java 5 the definition would be: 

    public enum LinkDir {
        LinkDirNone,
        LinkDirForward,
        LinkDirIn,
        LinkDirOut,
        LinkDirInOut
    };

An example of an interface definition is: 

    interface DbfBool extends Dbf {
        bool get();
        void put(bool val);
    };

In C++ would be: 

    class DbfBool : public Dbf {
    public:
        virtual bool get() = 0;
        virtual void put(bool val) = 0;
    };

In Java would be: 

    interface DbfBool extends Dbf {
        bool get();
        void put(bool val)
    };

An example of a struct definition is: 

    struct displayLimitsData {
        float64 low;
        float64 high;
    };

In C++ this would be: 

   struct displayLimitsData {
        double low;
        double high;
    };

In Java this would be: 

    class displayLimitsData {
        public double low;
        public double high;
    };

An example of a definition that includes an array is: 

    bool get(int32 len,octet[] data);

In C++ ,this would become: 

    bool get(int len, char data[]);

support for strings and arrays

string support

The following interfaces are for allocating tempory storage for strings: 

    interface NonmutableString {
       void destroy(); // Call this when done with string
       int32 getLength();
       void get(int32 len,octet[] data);
    };
   
    interface NonmutableStringFactory {
        NonmutableString create(int32 len,octet[] data);
    }

    interface MutableString extends NonmutableString {
       int32 getCapacity();
       void put(int32,len,octet[] data);
    };
   
    interface MutableStringFactory {
        MutableString create(int32 int32 capacity);
    }

These will use free lists to manage the storage for the octet arrays.

array support

    // ArrayCopy only works on primitive types
    interface ArrayCopy {
        copy(DbfArray from,DbfArray to);
    }

This only supports primitive types, i.e. DbfBool,...,DbfFloat64.

dbfTypes

The following naming conventions are used:

Dbf
any class starting with Dbf describes a field in a generated header file. For example DbfArray describes a field generated from field(name,array(float64[]).
Dbd
A class name starting with Dbd describes something related to dbd definitions. For example DbdLinkSupport describes a dbd link definition.

All Dbf and Dbd definitions are interfaces. Thus all access to data is via interfaces. The IOC database implements the interfaces, with help from record, link, and device support. After initialization data can only be accessed via the interfaces. This allows the database to handle actions like posting database monitors without any help from record, link, or device support.

dbfTypes.h

The following enum definitions describe each field in the header files generated from DBD struct and record definitions. 

    enum basicType {
        basicTypeBool,     // DbfBool
        basicTypeOctet,    // DbfOctet
        basicTypeInt16,    // DbfInt16
        basicTypeInt32,    // DbfInt32
        basicTypeInt64,    // DbfInt64
        basicTypeFloat32,  // DbfFloat32
        basicTypeFloat64,  // DbfFloat64
        basicTypeString,   // DbfString
        basicTypeArray,    // DbfArray
        basicTypeStruct,   // DbfStruct
    };

    enum dbfType {
        dbfTypeBasic,       // DbfBool,...,DbfStruct
        dbfTypeMenu,        // DbfMenu
        dbfTypeEnum,        // DbfEnum
        dbfTypeLink,        // DbfLink
        dbfTypeDevice,      // DbfDevice
        dbfTypeMDArray,     // DbfMDArray
        dbfTypeTimeStamp    // DbfTimeStamp
    };


Discussion of dbfTypes

The following shows the code generated from DBD files:

structure definitions

If a structure is defined as: 

    struct(displayLimits) {
        field(low,double)
        field(high,double)
    }

Then the generated C++ header file will be 

    class displayLimit {
    public:
        DbfFloat64 low;
        DbfFloat64 high;
        static int16 lowIndex = 1;
        static int16 highIndex = 2;
        static int16 lastIndex = highIndex;
    };

The generated Java file is 

    class displayLimit {
        public DbfFloat64 low;
        public DbfFloat64 high;
        public static final int16 lowIndex = 1;
        public static final int16 highIndex = 2;
        public static final int16 lastIndex = indexHigh;
    };

In addition code will be generated that implements the following: 

    struct displayLimitData {
        float64 low;
        float64 high;
    }
    interface displayLimitAccess{
        void get(DbfStruct, displayLimitData data);
        void put(DbfStruct, displayLimitData data);
    }

record definitions

If a record is defined as: 

    record(example) extends iocRecord {
        ...
        field(fbool,bool)
        field(foctet,octet)
        field(fint,int16)
        ...
        field(ffloat,float64)
        field(fstring,string)
        field(farray,array(double[])
        field(fmdarray,array(double[,])
        field(fmenu,menu(name))
        field(fenum,enum)
        field(flink,link(in))
        field(fdevice,link(in,analogIO))
        field(displayLimits,struct(displayLimits))
    }

Then the generated C++ header file will be 

    class iocRecord {
    public:
        DbdRecordInstance base;
    };

    class exampleRecord : public iocRecord {
    public:
        DbfBool      fbool;
        DbfOctet     foctet;
        DbfInt16     fint;
        ...
        DbfFloat64   ffloat;
        DbfString    fstring;
        DbfArray     farray;
        DbfMDArray   fmdarray;
        DbfMenu      fmenu;
        DbfEnum      fenum;
        DbfLink      flink;
        DbfDevice    fdevice;
        DbfStruct    displayLimits;
        static int16 baseIndex = 1;
        static int16 fboolIndex = 2;
        ...
        static int16 lastIndex = displayLimitsIndex;

};

The generated Java file is 

    class iocRecord {
        public DbdRecordInstance base;
    };
    class exampleRecord extends iocRecord {
        public DbfBool      fbool;
        public DbfOctet     foctet;
        public DbfInt16     fint;
        ...
        public DbfFloat64   ffloat;
        public DbfString    fstring;
        public DbfArray     farray;
        public DbfMDArray   fmdarray;
        public DbfMenu      fmenu;
        public DbfEnum      fenum;
        public DbfLink      flink;
        public DbfDevice    fdevice;
        public DbfStruct    displayLimits;
        public static final int16 baseIndex = 1;
        public static final int16 fboolIndex = 2;
        ...
        public static final int16 lastIndex = displayLimitsIndex;
    };

Database Fields

Each database field is accessed via an interface which all derived from the following interface: 

    interface Dbf{
        bool isPrimitive(); // basicTypeBool,...,basicTypeFloat64
        bool isBasic();
        basicType getBasicType();
        DbdRecordInstance getRecord();
        int16 getIndex();
    };

The interfaces are designed as follows:

  • dbAccess provides storage for fields and never exposes the address of any field.
  • dbAccess notifies Channel Access when an field is modified.
  • Can we just lock individual records rather than lock sets?

The fact the each field is an object means that additional storage is required. dbAccess will probably have something like the following: 

   class Field {
   public:
       DbdRecordInstance &instance;
       short             index;
   };
   ...
   class IntField : public Field {
   public:
       int data;
   }
   ...

This each field has the overhead of

  • instance - a reference to DbdRecordInstance
  • index - a 16 bit integer
  • vtbl - a reference to the class implementation


Primitive Types

DbfOctet, ..., DbfFloat64 are all interfaces with methods get and put. 

    interface DbfBool extends Dbf {
        bool get();
        void put(bool val);
    };
   
    interface DbfOctet extends Dbf {
        octet get();
        void put(octet val);
    };
   
    interface DbfInt16 extends Dbf {
        int16 get();
        void put(int16 val);
    };
   
    interface DbfInt32 extends Dbf {
        int32 get();
        void put(int32 val);
    };
   
    interface DbfInt64 extends Dbf {
        int64 get();
        void put(int64 val);
    };
   
    interface DbfFloat32 extends Dbf {
        float32 get();
        void put(float32 val);
    };
   
    interface DbfFloat64 extends Dbf {
        float64 get();
        void put(float64 val);
    };


Record support code can access such fields via the generated header file. Some examples are: 

    exampleRecord *precord;
    epicsInt16 myint;
    ...
    precord->ffloat->put(10.0);
    ...
    myint = precord->fint->get();

Code that does not include the generated header file can access these fields via the introspecion interfaces described later in this document. For example code that expects a epicsFloat64 field can access it via 

    char *name = "recordname.value";
    NonmutableString *pvname = pNonmutableStringFactory->create(
                     strlen(name),name);
    DbdAddr *pDbdAddr;
    DbfFloat64 *pfield;
    ...
    
    pDbdAddr = pLocateInstance->getPV(pvname);
    pvname->destroy();
    if(!pDbdAddr || (pDbdAddr->getType != dbfTypeFloat64)) // do SOMETHING
    pfield = (epicsFloat64 *)pDbdAddr->getAddr();
    pfield->put(10.0);
    // Note that the database will automatically post monitors on the field

String fields

The interface for a string field is: 

    interface DbfString extends Dbf {
       int32 getLength();
       void get(MutableString string);
       void setPutSize(int32 size);
       void put(NonmutableString string);
    };

The following code prints a string. 

    exampleRecord *precord;
    epicsInt32 len = precord->fstring->getLength();
    MutableString *pstring = pMutableStringFactory->create(len);
    ...
    precord->fstring->get(pstring);
    printf("%.*s\n",len,pdata);

Code that does not include the header file can use the introspection methods to locate the DbfString that provides access to the field.

NOTES:

  • Does record support have to have any say in how dbAccess manages storage for strings? I don't think so.

Structure Fields

    interface DbfIntrospect {
        dfType getType();
        Dbf getInterface();
    };
   
    interface DbfStruct extends Dbf {
        int16 getNfields();
        DbfIntrospect getIntrospect(int16 index);
    };

Structure fields can only be accessed via introspection. However, for each structure, code is generated that does the introspection. For example displayLimitData can be obtained via the statements: 

    exampleRecord *precord;
    displayLimitData limits;
    
    ...
    pdisplayLimitAccess->get(precord->displayLimits,limits);
    printf("low %f high %f\n",limits.low,limits.high);

Array Fields

    interface DbfArray extends Dbf {
       dbfType getType();
       int32 getNelements();
       void setNelements(int32 len);
    };

    interface DbfOctetArray extends DbfArray {
       int32 get(int32 offset, int32 len, octet[] pto);
       int32 put(int32 offset, int32 len, octet[] pfrom);
    };

    interface DbfBoolArray extends DbfArray {
       int32 get(int32 offset, int32 len, bool[] pto);
       int32 put(int32 offset, int32 len, bool[] pfrom);
    };

    interface DbfInt16Array extends DbfArray {
       int32 get(int32 offset, int32 len, int16[] pto);
       int32 put(int32 offset, int32 len, int16[] pfrom);
    };

    interface DbfInt32Array extends DbfArray {
       int32 get(int32 offset, int32 len, int32[] pto);
       int32 put(int32 offset, int32 len, int32[] pfrom);
    };

    interface DbfInt64Array extends DbfArray {
       int32 get(int32 offset, int32 len, int64[] pto);
       int32 put(int32 offset, int32 len, int64[] pfrom);
    };

    interface DbfFloat32Array extends DbfArray {
       int32 get(int32 offset, int32 len, float32[] pto);
       int32 put(int32 offset, int32 len, float32[] pfrom);
    };

    interface DbfFloat64Array extends DbfArray {
       int32 get(int32 offset, int32 len, float64[] pto);
       int32 put(int32 offset, int32 len, float64[] pfrom);
    };

    interface DbfStringArray extends DbfArray {
        DbfString getInterface(int32 index);
    };

    interface DbfArrayArray extends DbfArray {
        DbfArray getInterface(int32 index);
    };

    interface DbfStructArray extends DbfArray {
        DbfStruct getInterface(int32 index);
    };

The following puts data into a float54 field. 

    exampleRecord *precord;
    float64 *pdata; // assume this has been allocated somehow
    int32   nelements; // this is number of elements
    DbfFloat64Array *parray = (DbfFloat64Array *)precord->farray;
    ...
    parray->put(0,nelements,pdata);


NOTES:

  • It must be possible for support to provide an implementation of get and put. It must be possible to do this in segments. For example
    • A circular buffer requires two segments
    • If the memory is in hardware, the support can read/write the data in segmemnts. Transient recorders are an example.
  • If support implements get and put then dbAccess does NOT manage storage but just call support to get/put data.

DbfMDArray

NOT YET DEFINED


DbfMenu

DbfMenu is described as: 

    interface DbfMenu extends Dbf {
        int16 getIndex();
        void putIndex(int16 val);
        DbdMenu getDbdMenu();
    };

DbfMenu allows the menu index to be set and retrieved and also provides access to the DbdMenu.

A DbfMenu field can be accessed via the generated header file or via the introspection methods.


DbfEnum

DbfEnum is described as: 

    interface DbfEnum extends Dbf {
        int16 getIndex();
        void putIndex(int16 val);
        DbfStringArray getChoiceArray();
    };


DbfEnum allows the enum index to be set and retrieved and also provides access to the The DbfArray field that contains the choices.

DbfLink and DbfDevice

DbfLink is described as 

    enum LinkDir {
        LinkDirNone,
        LinkDirForward,
        LinkDirIn,
        LinkDirOut,
        LinkDirInOut
    };
   
    interface DbfLink extends Dbf {
        LinkDir getDir();
        LinkSupport support;
    };
   
    interface DbfDevice extends Dbf {
        LinkDir getDir();
        Support support; // Support is base class for device support
    };

See below for the description of support, which included record, link, and device support.

DbfTimeStamp

    struct TimeStamp {
        int64 secondsSinceEpoch;
        int32 nanoSeconds;
    };

    interface DbfTimeStamp extends Dbf {
        void get(TimeStamp timeStamp);
        void put(TimeStamp timeStamp);
    };

dbdStatements

The definitions in dbdStatements.h describe everything defined in database definition files.

In the definitions:


DbdMenu

    interface DbdMenu {
        NonmutableString getName();
        int16 getNchoices();
        NonmutableString getChoice(int16 index);
    };


DbdLink and DbdDevice

    interface DbdLink {
        LinkDir getDir();
        NonmutableString getChoiceName();
        LinkSupport create(DbfLink link);
    };
   
   
    interface DbdDevice {
        LinkDir getDir();
        NonmutableString getChoiceName();
        Support  create(DbfDevice device);
    };


DbdStruct and DbdRecord

    interface DbdAttribute {
        NonmutableString getDefault();
        bool isReadonly();
        bool isDesign();
        bool isSpecial();
        int16 getAsl();
    };
   
    interface DbdDefaults {};
   
    interface DbdStringDefaults extends DbdDefaults{
        NonmutableString getBufferType();
        int32 getCapacity();
    };

    interface DbdArrayDefaults extends DbdDefaults{
        dbfType getType();
        NonmutableString getBufferType();
        int32 getCapacity();
        int32 getLength();

    interface DbdStructDefaults extends DbdDefaults{
        DbdStruct getDescription();
    };

    interface DbdField {
        NonmutableString getName();
        dbfType getType();
        DbdDefaults getDefaults();
        DbdAttribute getAttributes();
    };

    interface DbdStruct {
        NonmutableString getName();
        int16 getNumberFields();
        DbdField getFieldDescription(int16 index);
        DbdStructLifetime getLifetime();
    };

    interrface DbdRecord {
        // Need list of instances
        NonmutableString getName();
        int16 getNumberFields();
        DbdField getFieldDescription(int16 index);
        DbdRecordSupport getSupport();
        DbdRecordLifetime getLifetime();
    };

    interface DbdLocate {
        DbdMenu getMenu(NonmutableString name);
        DbdLink getLink(NonmutableString name);
        DbdDevice getDevice(NonmutableString name);
        DbdStruct getStruct(NonmutableString name);
        DbdRecord getRecord(NonmutableString name);
    };


Record Instance

    interface DbdRecordInstance {
        DbdRecord getDescription();
        NonmutableString getName();
        iocRecord getReference();
    };

    interface DbdAddr {
        void    destroy();  // call this when done with DbAddr
        dbfType getType();
        DbdRecordInstance getInstance();
        int16 getIndex();
        void  getField(NonmutableString field);
    };

    interface LocateInstance{
        DbdAddr getPV(NonmutableString pvname);
        DbdAddr getField(NonmutableString record,NonmutableString field);
    }


Record, Link, Device Support

    // base interface for support
    interface Support {
        void destroy();
        NonmutableString getSupportName();
        NonmutableString getDataStructName();
        void report(int16 level);
        void initialize();
        void connect();
        void disconnect();
    };
   
    enum processState {
        processIdle,
        processInputActive,
        processActive,
        processOutputActive,
        processDone
    };
   
    interface RecordSupport {
        void destroy();
        void initialize();
        processState process(processState state);
        void special(bool after,DbfField field);
    };
   
    interface Callback {
        void done();
        void timedout();
    }
   
    interface LinkSupport extends Support {
        void get(DbfField field);
        void getProcess(DbfField field,double timeout,Callback callback);
        void put(DbfField field, bool process);
        void putWait(DbfField field,double timeout,Callback callback);
        void process();
        void processWait(double timeout,Callback callback);
    }
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